Designing a flower press

Pressed and dried flowers make beautiful keepsakes or additions to art and craft projects.

A flower press is a simple device that features a rigid base and top plate with bolts through each corner.

To make your own press, cut two 300 x 300mm squares from 9mm marine or exterior ply.

Drill holes about 20mm in from the corners, insert the bolts and secure threaded drawer knobs over the top.

TIP You can also use wing nuts.

To adjust the size of the press simply cut the plywood larger or smaller. For scrapbooks or albums you may want it A4 size.

Position the flowers and leaves between layers of paper on the base plate then add the top plate.

Wind the knobs to tighten the bolts and draw the top and base plates together, compressing the contents of the press.

Change the paper every few days until the flowers or leaves have dried.

Pressed and dried flowers make beautiful keepsakes or additions to art and craft projects

Watch the weather

Add a rain gauge to the garden and open up a new world for kids to explore. It is a simple and fun learning tool that helps children appreciate the importance of climate in their garden. The best spot is somewhere that’s frequently visited like the vegie garden.

POSITION THE RAIN GAUGE high enough so water won’t splash into it and in an area clear from overhanging buildings or trees. A large, securely mounted, seasoned hardwood garden stake is an ideal mounting point.

KEEP RECORDSto help kids learn how to track data and look at summarised results. Create a spreadsheet and graph that tallies the monthly and annual rainfall.

Add a rain gauge to the garden and open up a new world for kids to explore

Keeping an eye on rainfall gives kids a reason to get outdoors regularly

Outdoor lights

Turn your garden into a fairy wonderland after dark by adding handmade lanterns.

All you need is glass paint, LED tea-light candles and glass containers or bottles in just about any shape you can find.

To hang lanterns from trees in the garden, decorate jars with wire handles. If you don’t have any, choose jars with a lip and make a hanger using galvanised tie wire from the hardware store.

Paint markers make it easy to create pictures and patterns on glass candle holders of all shapes and sizes.

They cost from $5 each, from Officeworks, resist fading and come in a range of colours including metallics.

Get the kids to practise first on a piece of paper the same size as the surface to be painted.

TIPIf using real candles, don’t paint on the side exposed to the flame.